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Our first operational asset is called a 25 pounder field artillery gun/howitzer used by Canadian and other Commonwealth Gunners in World War II and the Korean War. It was the most famous gun of any army in both of these conflicts.
Now, all the other arms of the military service have their ceremonial Flags (Regimental Colours) which they can store in repository - however, since the guns are the Regimental Colours of the Royal Regiment of Artillery they cannot be stored away as such and eventually end up ignominiously in the scrap yard when their service is no longer required. The gun is the Colours of the Royal Regiment of Artillery because each gun barrel is inscribed with the Royal Cypher of the reigning Monarch.
The Toronto Artillery Foundation formed the Historic Gun Committee to procure a 25 pdr gun, its ammunition limber and field artillery tractor before this equipment became extinct and the 7th Toronto Regiment RCA, became the custodian and has been tasked to store, maintain, display and parade this famous World War II and Korean War gun as required for various public and/or other functions. This is where the Limber Gunners Association comes into the picture, to relieve the Regiment of these tasks which it is unable to fulfill due to Regimental commitments.
The procurement of our 25 pdr was the first project of the Toronto Artillery Foundation and our gun and limber were located and purchased from 1st Field Artillery Regiment in Halifax, Nova Scotia in early 1994. It required a certain amount of restoration, which was undertaken by a restorer here in Ontario who restored the unit to operational condition.
The gun's specifications:
- · Weight: 1.98 tons
- · Length: 18 ft 2 in (5.53 m) from muzzle brake to tip of handspike
- · Width: 7 ft. wheelbase
- · Barrel Length: 31 calibers
- · Breech: Vertical Sliding Block
- · Feed System: Single shot, breech loaded
- · Crew: 6
- · Shell: Normal, Super
- · Ammunition: 18 ft 2 in (5.53 m) from muzzle brake to tip of handspike
- · Caliber: 3.45 in.
- · Elevation: -5 to 45 degrees
- · Traverse: 360 degrees on platform, 4 degrees on carriage
- · Rate of Fire: 6 to 8 rounds per minute
- · Muzzle Velocity: 1,700 ft./sec. Charge Super
- · Range: 11,500 yards Charge Super
- · Sights: Direct Fire - Telescopic / Indirect Fire - Calibrating and Reciprocating
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Ordnance Q.F. 25-pr Mk 2 on Carriage 25-pr Mk 1
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The 25-pr Gun Mk 2 on Carriage 25-pr Mark 1 was the standard British field gun of World War 2, consequently it was widely used, in addition to Commonwealth artilleries it was used by the Free Forces of Poland, France, Netherlands, Belgian and Greece. It was manufactured in UK, Canada and Australia (1315 guns).
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Calibre
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3.45 inches
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Ordnance length
Bore length
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97.45 inches
26.7 calibres
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Rifling
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26 grooves, 1 in 20 uniform twist
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Chamber capacity
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151 cubic inches
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Barrel
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Autofrettaged loose liner
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Breech
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Vertical sliding block
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Recuperator
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Hydro-pneumatic
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Sights
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Calibrating & reciprocating
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Carriage configuration
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Box trail & platform
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Elevation
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- 5° to 45° & 70°
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Top traverse
Platform
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4° Left & Right
360°
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Loading Angle
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Any
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Basic Weight
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1.8 tons
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Length (muzzle to towing eye)
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15.1 feet
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Trunnion height
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3.8 feet
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Width at wheel hubs
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7 feet
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Length (less fuze)
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13.84 inches
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Calibre radius head
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5/10
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Body Diameter
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3.44 inches
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Driving Band Diameter
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3.56 inches
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Weight (incl fuze)
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25 lbs
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Explosive Weight
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1.8 lbs
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Charge
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New Gun MV
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RT MV
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RT Max Range
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Time of Flight @ Max Range
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Probable Error @ Max Range
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Approx Propellant Weight
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Remarks
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1
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650 f/s
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650 f/s
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3,900 yds
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25 secs
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45 yds
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0.4 lbs
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Red bag
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2
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1000 f/s
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975 f/s
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7,800 yds
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38 secs
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35 yds
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0.5 lbs
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Red & White bags
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3
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1486 f/s
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1450 f/s
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11,825 yds
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51 secs
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35 yds
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0.8 lbs
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Red, White & Blue bags
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Super
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1747 f/s
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1700 f/s
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13,400 yds
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53 secs
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40 yds
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2.7 lbs
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Separate cartridge
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Supplementary intermediate charge increments ( 4 oz) for upper register fire
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1 + 1 inc
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877 f/s
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825 f/s
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5,900 yds
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33 secs
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50 yds
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0.7 lbs
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2 + 1 inc
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1169 f/s
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1150 f/s
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9,700 yds
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43 secs
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50 yds
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0.8 lbs
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2 + 2 incs
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1328 f/s
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1300 f/s
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10,700 yds
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43 secs
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45 yds
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1.0 lbs
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Anti- tank shot (20 lbs)
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3
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1550 f/s
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2,000 yds
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5 secs
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All Mks of guns
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Super
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1880 f/s
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1850 f/s
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3,000 yds
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7.2 secs
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Mk 2 and later guns
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Super + super inc
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2000 f/s
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3,000 yds
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6.9 secs
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Mk 2 and later guns with muzzle brake
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Rates of fire
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Gunfire
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Intense
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Rapid
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Normal
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Slow
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Very slow
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Rounds/Minute
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6 to 8
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5
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4
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3
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2
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1
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Normal Detachment
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6 men
(reduced - 4)
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Gun Tractor
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Field Artillery Tractor 4 × 4
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Artillery Trailer
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No 27
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1st Line Ammo (per gun)
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114 HE
16 Smoke
12 AP
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The above table:
Copyright © 2001 - 2008 Nigel F Evans. All Rights Reserved.
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